Caramel apples also make great gifts so you can make a batch to hand out at Halloween parties, as a thank-you present, or just make a few for your family on a crisp fall day. Add fun toppings to make it a gourmet treat!

The variety of apple that you choose for your caramel apple depends entirely on your taste! If you have a sweet tooth, you would probably enjoy a sweeter variety like a Fuji, Honeycrisp, Gala, or a Pink Lady as your apple base. For a more tart contrast to your sweet caramel topping, Granny Smith apples are the most popular choice. These are all firmer choices than say a softer Macintosh variety and give you a better crunch factor when eating your treat.
Caramel Apple Tip! Look for apples that are small to medium in size and round in shape for that perfect caramel apple look!



Prepare the apples: Once clean, make sure the apples are thoroughly dry before dipping! Skewer your apple with your stick or fork and set aside.

Melt the caramel: Put your caramels and heavy cream/milk in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30-second increments, stirring well between each heating session, until the caramel is smooth and melted. If the mixture seems thin, let it sit for a minute or two to thicken up a bit before dipping.
Yes! If you don’t have a microwave, you can still make caramel apples easily in a saucepan, a double-boiler pot, or a glass Pyrex-type bowl set on top of a saucepan of boiling water (it will take longer to melt this way, so be patient).
For a regular saucepan, add caramels and milk to the pan and heat on medium-low heat, stirring until melted. If using the double-boiler or bowl on top method, just bring a few inches of water to a boil in a pot, set the top of the double boiler or glass bowl on top with your caramel and milk, reduce the heat to a low boil/simmer and stir occasionally until melted.

Dip apples: Now that your caramel is melted, spray a tray or plate with nonstick cooking spray and dip your apple into the melted caramel at an angle, twisting it around until the apple is coated as well as you would like.
Lift the apple to let the excess caramel drip off and scrape the bottom over the side of the bowl to get extra excess. As the caramel gets lower in the bowl, you can also use a spoon to pour the caramel over the apple to cover the sides or tilt the bowl or pan so the caramel pools in one spot.

After dipping in your caramel, you can do a second dip into your topping of choice to give it some added flavor before setting it on your tray or plate. Try some black and orange sprinkles for a Halloween caramel apple treat!
If your caramel starts to set as you continue dipping your apples, reheat it for 15 seconds at a time in the microwave until the texture is dippable again.
Let the caramel set: Let your apples cool in the fridge for about 15-30 minutes to allow the caramel to fully set on your nonstick sprayed parchment paper or lined wax paper surface. Now your apple is ready to eat!



You can store caramel apples in the fridge for up to two weeks and you can also wrap them in cellophane or clear treat bags individually to give as gifts!
Caramel Apple Tip: Don’t cut into your apples until you are ready to eat them, otherwise they will start to turn brown.

Related: Non-alcoholic Halloween Drinks, Halloween Food Ideas.
Learn to make the El Diablo cocktail using reposado tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, grenadine and ginger beer.
Learn to make a Corpse Reviver No. 1 cocktail using absinthe, gin, Lillet Blanc, orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice.
Learn to make a Blood Orange Margarita using blood orange juice, tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice and agave.
When autumn rolls around, I love a bourbon cocktail. The classic old fashioned is the ultimate fall drink.
The aroma of apple and spice is so delightful and mulling cider is one of my favorite scents this time of year. Try this delicious recipe.
Learn to make the Incredible Hulk cocktail recipe with just three ingredients: Hpnotiq, cognac and orange bitters.
If you have never tried this recipe, it tastes exactly like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, but is in shot form. It’s perfect for fall!
There is nothing we won’t add pumpkin spice to and this delicious cocktail is the best!
Learn to make a Prickly Pear Margarita using tequila, prickly pear syrup, lime juice and orange liqueur. I love to serve mine with a salted rim and a lime slice as garnish.
What could be more perfect for Halloween than adding booze to your candy?
Learn to make a Bloody Caesar using vodka, Clamato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and horseradish. Garnish with celery and more!
We’re got more Halloween ideas for you! Halloween Crafts for Adults, 15 Halloween DIYs, Halloween Drinks (without alcohol) and Halloween Food Ideas like Candy Apples and Caramel Apples. Plus, on Childhood Magic, we have Halloween Activities for Kids.
Thanks so much for reading!
]]>If you are looking for some easy ideas to decorate cupcakes for Halloween, then look no further! We’ve got lots of different Halloween cupcake decorating ideas that anyone can pull off. You don’t have to be a professional baker to make these.
My foolproof method to make popcorn balls—add cereal, candy corn, or other candies to make these more festive. Or keep them classic!
An easy-to-follow recipe that makes soft and chewy pumpkin cookies; no baking required.
An easy and flavorful pumpkin soup with simple ingredients. Serve with grilled cheese or warm, toasted bread for a cozy meal.
An easy recipe for making pumpkin butter from scratch in a crockpot overnight. Anyone can have success with this recipe!
Soft and flavorful pumpkin cookies with a vanilla glaze. Easy to make and these will disappear immediately (because they are too good to resist)!
Hi there! I have been making an autumn trail mix for probably 15 years—every single autumn it’s a thing I love to do! Here’s my recipe.
While Halloween has all the fun of costumes and parties, let’s face it, it’s mostly an excuse to eat candy, right? Learn to make these edible candy bowls.
Love a spooky eyeball craft, decoration, or in this case an edible treat! Add these to any chilled drink.
Maybe it’s the forever kid in me, but I just can’t resist a good Halloween food item. Learn to make these eyeball jello shots!
I decided to make my own Halloween candy and I’ve found out that not only is it easier to do than I thought, it tastes way better than the store-bought kind.
This Halloween cocktail stencil DIY is super simple, very inexpensive, and once you know how make it you can add it to many different drinks.
One of my favorite things about Halloween is all the cute and creepy twists that people put on otherwise ordinary party foods.
Halloween is right around the corner, can you smell the sugar in the air? Day of the Dead is also coming up. If you’re not familiar with this Mexican holiday, it’s also celebrated on Oct. 31 (through Nov. 2) and is a time of remembrance for family and friends who have passed away.
This is a simple and quick idea for all the Halloween lovers in your life and is fun to make or to gift!
Candy apples may look like an impressive dessert (and hard to make), but it’s actually pretty easy (just like our Easy Caramel Apples!)! We’ll show you how …
And just as a side note, since the sugar is extremely hot and you can get burned if not careful, we don’t recommend doing this project with kids. Just let them eat the final result rather than help with this one.

Candy apples are a whole apple on a stick dipped in hot melted sugars which hardens to form a thin candy shell. While usually red, they can also be dyed other colors and they first appeared in 1908 in New Jersey when candy maker William Kolb created them. Red Hots candies were a popular choice to use for the outer coating, so some prefer to make theirs a cinnamon flavor coating to mimic that nostalgic flavor.

While Granny Smith apples are probably one of the biggest favorites for candy apples due to their tart flavor, you can really use any variety that you like! Just be sure to pick a more firm variety like a Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp rather than a softer option like a Macintosh.
Hard crack stage is one of the highest temperatures used in candy making at 300°-310°. There is almost no water remaining in the mixture, so it hardens rather than staying softer like a taffy.

Wash and dry apples: You want to try and remove any wax coating that’s on the apples so your coating will stick and you can avoid getting annoying bubbles that pop out of the coating.
You can scrub them really well with a clean textured scrubber after rinsing them in hot water and rub them dry with a textured towel to try and remove as much wax as you can, or some people like to boil water and dip the apples in the water for about 5 seconds before rubbing dry (longer than 8-10 seconds can start to cook the apples, so don’t leave them in too long!).
Make sure the apples are fully dry before dipping as any amount of water will create bubbles in your coating.
Add skewers: Push or tap your wooden skewers or lollipop sticks halfway into the top of your dried apples and set aside.


Prepare your pan: Prepare a sheet pan or parchment paper sprayed with nonstick spray or butter so you’ll be able to remove the apples easily once cooled.
Cook your coating: Combine sugar, water, corn syrup, and food coloring in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir together with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula and bring the sugar mixture to a boil with a candy thermometer clipped to your pot (make sure it’s not touching the bottom of the pot or it won’t be an accurate read).




Bring coating up to 300°: Let the mixture boil for about 15-20 minutes on medium-high heat until it reaches between 300°-310°. Remove the coating from the heat and allow the bubbles to settle down for a minute until smooth.
Dip your apples: Working quickly, tilt your pan to the side and dip an apple in the candy mixture, swirling the apple to get each side coated. Pull the apple out and let the excess drip off before placing on a prepared baking sheet, wax paper, silicone mat or parchment paper (just coat whichever one you use with cooking spray).
If the candy coating starts to harden before you are done dipping all your apples, put it back on medium heat until it thins out again.
NOTE: Remember, this sugar is very hot, so be sure to keep your skin away from the sugar to avoid burns. You can also have a bowl of ice water nearby just in case you make contact with the sugar so you can quickly dip your hand in that, or even use heatproof gloves made for cooking.
Let cool: Once all your apples are dipped, let the coating harden (it just takes a few minutes) and your apples are ready to eat! Remember, candy apples have a hard sticky coating, so eat with caution!
Biting right into a candy apple is almost impossible and just asking for dental bills. Kids can lick the hard outside coating like a giant lollipop, but it’s most practical to cut the candy apple into slices before eating.

You can easily add a teaspoon of cinnamon flavor to your candy mixture to create a fall flavor with a touch of cinnamon!

Now that your candy apples are made, you may be staring at your pot thinking “Now, how am I ever going to clean that?!” It’s actually pretty easy!
If you have some sugar up on the sides of your pot above the boiling water line, just use a spatula to keep pulling up some of the hot water over that spot until it starts to dissolve.
You can also dip your thermometer into the water as it boils to remove any hardened candy for the tip of that as well.
While sometimes bubbles are a bit of a mystery in candy apples, making sure you’ve removed as much wax as possible, checking that the apples are totally dry before dipping, and allowing the bubbles in the coating to settle before dipping will give you the best chance of a totally smooth mirror-like finish on your candy apples.
Candy apples can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator, although they are usually best eaten in the first 24 hours. The outer hard shell will last longer than three days, but the hole that is poked into the apple is what starts to oxidize the apple after a few days and makes it mushy inside.


Related: 25+ Halloween Cocktails, Halloween Food Ideas, Halloween Jello Shots.
Embrace your inner Twihard with this creepy vampire milkshake recipe. My kids loved it!
This delicious strawberry lemonade is sweet and refreshing and easy to make at home!
We’re got more Halloween ideas for you! Halloween Crafts for Adults, 15 Halloween DIYs, 25+ Halloween Cocktails and Halloween Food Ideas. Plus, on Childhood Magic, we have Halloween activities for kids.
]]>You could also make these Oreo Cake Pops for a no-bake option! And whether it’s food, desserts, costumes, or decoration ideas you need, we’ve got tons of ideas to make this Halloween special!


Cake mix: For this cake pop recipe, you can use any flavor of boxed cake mix: chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, yellow, etc. Be sure to check your cake mix to ensure you have whatever other cake ingredients the mix recommends for baking (eggs, oil, etc.).
Can of frosting: You will also need one container of store-bought frosting. I like to use anything with a simple texture like vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry.
Cake pop sticks: While it’s most common to use sticks like this, you can also use lollipop sticks, forks, or edible items like pretzel rods!
Candy melts: These melting wafers are the easiest way to get that chocolate coating as they melt easily and come in lots of color options.
Microwave or Double Boiler: You can melt candy melts in the microwave, but you can also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one.
Edible decorations: For these Halloween cake pops you’ll want candy eyeballs for the mummy and bat, Oreo-type cookies for the bat wings, chocolate chips for the bat ears, green candy melts or a large candy eye for the eyeball and an edible marker to draw on the red veins. Feel free to decorate with sprinkles or other edible candies!
While candy melts work best for cake pops, you can also use chocolate chips instead. The mixture will be a little thicker and slightly harder to work with (but still OK). And the shell around the cake pops will be thicker once the chocolate sets.


1. Bake the cake: Bake your cake according to the package instructions and allow to fully cool in the pan.
2. Add the frosting and mix: Spoon the baked cake into a large mixing bowl and break it up with your hands so it resembles large crumbs. Add 2/3 of the container of frosting. Using the full container makes the cake pops a bit too soft and harder to work with once we dip them in chocolate. But, this is how you get cake pops to stick together—with frosting. Use clean hands to mix together the frosting and cake. The cake pop batter is going to be pretty soft, but moldable.


3. Roll cake balls: Form your cake pop batter into small balls (about 3-4 tablespoons each). You don’t want them to be too big, just so they easily fit in the palm of your hand.
Once you have formed all your pops (a standard size cake will make around 35-40 cake pops), put them in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or the freezer for 30 minutes.
4. Melt your candy melts: Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30-second increments on half power. You could also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one. If you need to thin your candy melts, you can stir in a teaspoon of canola or vegetable oil once melted and can reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time to remelt if it starts to set up at any point.
5. Attach the cake pop stick: First, put your stick into the melted chocolate and push the stick 2/3 through a cold cake pop. The melted chocolate will act like a glue to keep the cake pop attached to the stick.


6. Dip the cake pop: Dip the attached cake pop into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip off the pop. Gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of your bowl to also shake off extra chocolate. Then, add any extra decorations and store the cake pop upright in a cake pop holder or styrofoam block while it sets (unless you don’t mind a flat bottomed cake pop then you can let them lay on wax or parchment paper).
You can keep them upright in a number of ways like sticking them into a container that is filled with granulated white sugar or rice or you can stick them into a block of styrofoam.




TIP: When adding the bat wings, have your cake pop standing up in a stand or jar of rice/sugar to hold it upright and insert the wings on both sides at the same time. Just go in far enough to stick but not so far that you split your cake pop in half.








How cute are those?! We love a good Halloween treat that is a little spooky but mostly fun. You can also use a little food dye in vanilla cake to make the inside cake pop batter a fun Halloween color for an extra surprise when you bite inside. You could even add some of these to a “Boo bag” to boo your neighbors and friends or try our Birthday Cake Pops for your next party. Happy baking!
Yes! You can use an angel food cake that’s already made from the store, just add the icing little by little until the cake sticks together to make your balls.
If making these ahead of time, you can store your completed cake pops at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. You can store them for up to four weeks in the refrigerator, but the cold can create some condensation on your decorations and cause them to bleed or warp a bit.

While these are obviously an adult treat, you can also make these without the alcohol to serve at a kid-friendly party as well (try serving along with our Halloween Cake Pops or Candy Apples and Caramel Apples!).

Alcohol: Vodka is the most commonly used alcohol for jello shots, but you can use lots of different spirits too. A lighter flavor like white rum will still allow the jello taste to be dominant, but you can also use stronger tasting options like gin, whiskey, or tequila if that’s your preference or goes best with your flavor profile.
Jello Box Mix: Using a boxed jello mix is the easiest way to get your jello shots made and in the fridge quickly to set, so pick your favorite flavor and get started! This recipe is for a 3-ounce box (which will make 10-12 shots), so just double the water and alcohol if you are making a 6-ounce box.
Water: Water and your alcohol will be the two liquids that you use for your jello shots.
Decorations: Depending on which shot you make, you’ll want green boba pearls for the witch’s cauldron and monster, swizzle sticks for cauldron sticks, candy eyeballs for the monster, gummy eyeballs for the eyeball shots, and jello shot syringes for the blood syringe shots.





Boil your water: For the base of your shots, boil 1 cup of water and add it to a mixing bowl that contains your flavored gelatin powder. Whisk the powder and hot water until the powder is dissolved.
Add your liquid: Pour in your remaining cold water and alcohol and whisk until combined.
Pour into cups: Pour your mixture into your small cups 3/4 of the way full (it’s easiest to pour from a spouted measuring cup) and add lids. Make sure your liquid is completely cool before adding lids so you don’t get condensation forming on the inside of the lid.
Set your jello shots: Put your jello shots in the fridge for 2-4 hours until set. Once ready to eat, set them out for your guests and enjoy!










Hope these easy Jello shots make it onto your Halloween party table this year, or you could also make easy Pudding Shots instead!

More recipes for kids: Shirley Temple, Roy Rogers Drink, Orange Julius, Wendy’s Frosty, Pink Lemonade.

This is a pitcher recipe. I also used these glasses that resemble pumpkins and some orange striped paper straws.

In a pitcher, combine apple cider, pumpkin puree, vanilla, pumpkin spice and sugar.
Stir with a whisk or wooden spoon until ingredients are fully combined.
Serve over ice or warmed on the stovetop.

This drink has a strong pumpkin flavor mixed with apple cider. If I tasted it without knowing what it was, I would probably have guessed it to be a pumpkin spiced apple cider.


If you’re interested in experiencing Harry Potter with your kids, we are loving these Harry Potter books which have pop ups as well as the illustrated version.

We’re off to catch the Hogwarts Express—see you next time!

Fall nail art has such a pretty seasonal color palette and textures to choose from for the perfect eye-catching look. Screenshot your favorite look to take to your nail artist for inspiration, or try it out yourself and go the DIY route at home!

While you can do so many fall nail ideas at home with gel manicure kits, it can be a little intimidating to some who are not as steady with their hands or just generally prefer the pampered experience at their local nail salon.
While gel polish manicures will generally last longer than traditional polish (usually 2-3 weeks for a gel manicure), there are traditional polish brands that boast several weeks of wear from their products and you don’t have the longer gel removal process at home if you choose to take off your own polish.
Some of the trickier techniques like chrome or magnetic polish also might be a little easier in the hands of a professional, but if you have a gel nail kit at home, they are looks that are fun to try and master.
Of course, doing a press-on nail is the easiest way to get your perfect fall style at home by yourself, so there’s no shame in finding your favorite look and grabbing your nail glue.

Pumpkin Patch
Pair these with a cozy sweater next time you visit the pumpkin patch (these are also super cute on short nails).

Checked Out
These fun checked accent nails in a sienna hue will look cute with any fall outfit.

Glitter Ghosts
More fun than scary, add some cute ghost accents to glitter nails and your nails will be Instagram ready for fall.

Pumpkin Pink
A pink French mani with tiny pumpkin art gives you a mini pumpkin patch everywhere you go!

Fall Waves
When it comes to fall nail trends, magnetized polish is popular and this set is mesmerizing with their caramel colored wave pattern.

Mad For Plaid
Brown and pink plaid are a fun twist on the classic French manicure for the perfect Clueless back-to-school look.

Pumpkin Spice
This accent of alternating orange and white French tips is perfect for the fall season.

Pumpkin Swirl
Instead of solid orange nails, this look of marbled orange and white are the perfect level of pattern for fall.

Fall Favorites
This September, bring all the colors of fall into this mani with pumpkin and plaid accent nails.

Orange You Glad?
This mani with alternating swoops of shades of orange is a fun side twist on a classic French manicure.

Silver Tips
Add some silver chrome to your French manicure with these shiny tips.

White As A Sheet
We love fall manicures with a ghost or two and these cute flower ghosts bring some floral fun to the fall season.

Warm Tips
These gradient French tips are a colorful classic in a warm palette perfect for the start of fall.

Taupe Ombre
These taupe ombre cat eye glitter nails are neutrals but come to life when the light hits them.

Plaid Accents
If a whole hand of plaid is too much pattern for you, try an accent nail in orange and reds to match the falling leaves.

Boo Who?
Like Casper, maybe just one little friendly ghost is all you need on your mani and you can sport a simple orange French tip for the rest.

Pumpkin Tips
Add a little bit of fall color to your nails with this cute orange French manicure design.

Golden Fall
These gold chrome tips on a rich brown nail are the perfect upscale look for fall.

I Want My Mummy
This cute mummy design is all Halloween without feeling creepy crawly.

Halloween Checkers
Black and white checkers next to cute Halloween symbols make this a scary cute manicure design.

Touch of Leopard
If you want a little bit of animal print without overdoing it, these French tip leopard print nails are perfect year round.

Spooky Lavender
Who said ghost nails are just black and white? Try shades of purple for your next ghost manicure.

Boo to You
These 3D ghosts will stand out on black nails with black glitter tips.

Icy Webs
White webs look delicate against a shimmery white background for a tone on tone effect.

Candy Corn Tips
These orange, yellow, and white tips will remind you of candy corn and look good enough to eat!

Love You to the Moon
Add some chrome gold moons and starry night accents to a natural nail for a subtle celestial look.

Pumpkin Glow
Fall is the perfect time for these pumpkin chrome aura nails—they are just the right pop of color with their burnt orange centers.

Trendy Turtle
Add some fun animal print to your wardrobe with this tortoiseshell design.

Back in Black
We love matte finishes paired with a glossy top coat in areas, so these matte black nails with shiny black French tips are chic for the fall and Halloween season.

Webs of Gold
Delicate gold webs are pretty against a nude background for a fun Halloween twist.

Spider Woman
They may have eight legs but these spiders look fabulous crawling over nude matte nails.

No Bones About It
These fun skeleton fingers are just right for a cool Halloween look.

Merlot Dreams
Autumn nails don’t have to be orange or brown—this wine-colored sparkle manicure proves that deep burgundy can take you all the way through Thanksgiving and into the holidays.

I Ain’t Afraid Of No Ghost
These bold nails feature black sparkle backgrounds for scary ghosts to haunt.

Evergreen Tips
For green nails, feature a deep green tip on a beige nail for a colorful take on a classic French design.

Dark Rainbow
This black sparkle manicure with rainbow cat eye glitter brings a little color to a dark mani.

Halloween Aura
These purple and black aura nails are just right for the Halloween season.

Scary Symbols
Gold and chrome purple are a pretty combo along with French tip accents and scary symbols.

In The Mood
These navy nails with marbling and gold star details bring a moody vibe to your fall wardrobe.

Orange Ombre
These orange ombre nails with layer of black sparkle webs are the perfect look for your fall Halloween season.

Mystical Magic
These fun symbol nails are just the right amount of pattern for the perfect Halloween look.

Lovely in Lace
To add some black to your manicure without looking overly dark, try a black lace look this Halloween.

Wine and Dine
This cat eye is perfect to add a bit of blood red to your wardrobe.

Fall in Love
Add all the fall foliage to your manicure with this cute leaf design with sparkle French tips.

Sparkle Black French
Adding some sparkle under a black French tip manicure brings some fun into a classic look.

Half Harvest Moon
Try a negative space half moon pattern in a pretty vermillion tone.

Caramel Vibes
These fun nails feature caramel checkers, waves, and stars with a cute pumpkin accent.

Shades of Fall
These fun nails use mustard yellow and oranges with little flower accents.

Smoke Show
These trendy smoke nails will add a fun yet spooky vibe to any look.

Black Cat Eye
These black cat eye nails are stunning in the sun and bring a lighter look to a classic black manicure.

Falling Leaves
When it comes to fall nail ideas, we love these pretty copper sparkle leaf patterns across a coffin nail.

Cat’s Meow
Even if you are superstitious, you’ll want these cute black cat nails to cross your path this Halloween.

Aura You Ready For This?
These stunning green and purple aura nails bring all the hocus pocus vibes and add magic to your look.

Golden Tips
Go high style with this wavy gold tip design.

Chocolate Chrome
Bring on the mirrorball look with these chocolate chrome nails.

Halloween Town
Get into the spooky season with these taupe and black polish accent nails full of ghosts and spider webs for Halloween manicure fun (this would be fun on a coffin nail shape as well).

Hint of Black
Add a bit of drama to your nails with these sleek nails that have just the bottom side dipped in black polish.

Snakeskin Accent
Perfect for fall, this brown and snakeskin accent mani hits in all the right places.

Black Night
This combo of matte and glossy black polish nails are perfectly chic for Halloween.

Purple Haze
Whether you just love purple or want that glam witchy look for Halloween, these glitter nails are just right.

No Bones About It
Add a spooky vibe to your manicure with some skeleton and spider web details.

Peek A Boo
These nude and black polish accent nails with a heart cut out are cute for Halloween or any time of the year.

Hey Boo
Add these friendly ghosts to your mani with a brush and dotting tool for some cute Halloween fun.

Chocolate Tips
These glitter chocolate brown French tips are perfect for the fall season.

Pumpkin Pride
Add your love of all things pumpkin to your manicure for the perfect fun fall look.

Star Kissed
Try these ombre blush centers accented with gold foil stars.

While you can do so many manicure looks at home now with gel manicure kits, it can be a little intimidating to some who are not as steady with their hands or just generally prefer the pampered experience at their local nail salon.
While gel polish manicures will generally last longer than traditional polish (usually 2-3 weeks for a gel manicure), there are traditional polish brands that boast several weeks of wear from their products and you don’t have the longer gel removal process at home if you choose to take off your own polish.
Some of the trickier techniques like chrome or magnetic polish also might be a little easier in the hands of a professional, but if you have a gel nail kit at home, they are looks that are fun to try and master.
Of course, doing a press-on nail is the easiest way to get your perfect Halloween style at home by yourself, so there’s no shame in finding your favorite look and grabbing your nail glue.

Glitter Ghosts
Halloween nail art doesn’t have to be creepy! These cute ghosts are more fun than scary added as an accent to glitter nails.

Smoke Show
The trend of smoke nails will add a fun yet spooky vibe to any look.

No Bones About It
These fun skeleton fingers are just right to show off on your Instagram for a cool Halloween look.

Love You to the Moon
Add some chrome gold moons and starry night accents to a natural nail for a subtle celestial look.

Sparkle Black French
Adding some sparkle under a black French tip manicure for all treat and no trick when it comes to your manicure.

Candy Corn Tips
These orange, yellow, and white tips will give you candy corn inspiration and look good enough to eat!

No Bones About It
Make your nails a canvas and add some spooky vibes with skeletons, skulls, and spider web details.

Mystical Magic
These fun symbol nails on black nail polish are just the right amount of pattern for the perfect Halloween look.

Chrome Blood
Add some blood drips to your nails (extra points for chrome red blood) to really sell your scary Halloween costume.

Boo to You
These 3D ghosts will stand out on black nails with black glitter tips.

Halloween Checkers
Black and white checkers next to cute jack-o-lanterns make this a scary cute manicure design.

Slytherin Style
If you can talk to snakes, show off your Slytherin allegiance with these velvet green nails with a silver snake accent.

White As A Sheet
These cute flower ghosts bring some floral fun to the fall season and you can DIY the look with some white nails and Halloween nail decals.

Spider Woman
They may give some of you nightmares, but these spiders look fabulous crawling over a nude matte nail.

Orange Ombre
These orange ombre nails with black sparkle webs are the perfect look for your fall Halloween season.

Cat’s Meow
Even if you are superstitious, we like the creativity of adding cute black cats to your nails this Halloween.

Halloween Aura
These purple and black aura nails are just right for the Halloween season and give a more abstract look.

Dark Rainbow
This black sparkle manicure with rainbow cat eye glitter brings a little color to a dark mani.

Halloween Town
Get into the spooky season with these taupe and black polish accent nails full of ghosts and spider webs for Halloween manicure fun (this would be fun on a coffin nail shape as well).

Pumpkin Patch
These nails are the perfect pumpkin patch accessories for your fall outings.

Webs of Gold
Delicate gold webs are pretty against a nude background for a fun Halloween twist.

Back in Black
Matte black nails with shiny black tips are a chic twist on a classic French tip for the fall and Halloween season—perfect companion for a vampire costume!

I Ain’t Afraid Of No Ghost
These bold nails bring the Halloween spirit to your fingertips as they feature black sparkle backgrounds for scary ghosts to haunt.

Spooky Lavender
Who said ghost nails are just black and white? Try shades of purple for your next ghost manicure.

Harry Potter
Show your HP fandom off with these short Harry Potter nails fit for any witch or wizard.

Ghostbusters
This mani gets its neon green color inspo from the best of Halloween slime.

Peek A Boo
These nude and black polish accent nails with a negative space heart are cute for Halloween or any time of the year.

Lovely in Lace
To add some black to your manicure without looking overly dark, try a black lace look this Halloween.

Wine and Dine
This cat eye is perfect to add a bit of blood red to your wardrobe.

In The Mood
This October, try navy nails with marbling and gold star details bring a moody vibe to your fall wardrobe.

Black Cat Eye
These black cat eye nails are stunning in the sun and bring a lighter look to a classic black manicure.

I Want My Mummy
This cute mummy design is all Halloween without feeling creepy crawly.

Boo Who?
Like Casper, maybe just one little friendly ghost is all you need on your mani and you can sport a simple orange French tip for the rest.

Pumpkin Swirl
This look of marbled orange and white are the perfect level of pattern for fall.

Pumpkin Pink
Pink French tip nails with tiny pumpkin art gives you a mini pumpkin patch everywhere you go!

Aura You Ready For This?
These stunning green and purple aura nails bring all the hocus pocus vibes and add magic to your look.

Spooky Symbols
For beginners, add some Halloween bat and moon decals to a French manicure and you have a simple yet cute Halloween vibe over a classic look.

Icy Webs
White webs look delicate against a shimmery white background for a tone on tone effect.

Shades of Fall
These fun nails use all the colors of fall leaves with little flower accents.

Chrome Symbols
Gold and chrome purple are a pretty combo along with French tip accents and scary symbols.

Pumpkin Pride
Add your love of all things pumpkin to your manicure for the perfect fun fall look.

Hint of Black
Add a bit of drama to your nails with these sleek nails that have just the bottom side dipped in black polish.

Black Night
This combo of matte and glossy black polish nails are perfectly chic for Halloween.

Purple Haze
Whether you just love purple or want that glam witchy look for Halloween, these glitter nails are just right.

Hey Boo
Add these friendly ghosts to your mani with a brush and dotting tool for some cute Halloween fun.